Boat safety stressed to avoid deaths

LEWISVILLE - Swarms of personal watercraft and boats whiz by at 60 mph. The beer flows like water. No wonder some consider lakes more dangerous than highways.

At least seven people have died on Texas waters recently, and summer is less than two weeks away.

"They should set speed limits on Saturdays and Sundays," said Steve Southers of Carrollton, who boats on Lake Lewisville several times a week with his family.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department counted 249 boating accidents and 61 deaths on state waters last year. In 2001, there were 242 accidents and 41 fatalities.

"People find out about them real quick, and it's an unfortunate way to have awareness raised," said Tim MacAllister, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers worker who helps maintain Lewisville, Grapevine and Ray Roberts lakes in North Texas. "We're trying to help people get out here away from the troubles and not create more."

Water safety experts said two main factors contribute to death and injury on the water: failure to use floatation devices and alcohol consumption.

Dennis Johnston, chief of marine enforcement for Texas Parks and Wildlife, said 85 percent of boating deaths and injuries would be prevented if people wore life preservers.

At Lake Lewisville, MacAllister said park rangers and game wardens patrol the lake and docks to make sure passengers have life jackets and that children under 13 are wearing one.